H.R. 142 Summary

• Requests the Governor to set aside and transfer 60 acres of land to the West Hawaii Veterans Council to establish a multi-purpose and intergenerational veterans center facility in West Hawaii.

• Proposes the facility serve as a consolidated location for federal Department of Veterans Affairs services, state Office of Veterans Services, meeting spaces, recreational activities, and a veterans museum.

• Identifies specific needs addressed by the facility including lack of meeting spaces at West Hawaii Veterans Cemetery, no permanent state veterans office in Kona, shortage of emergency shelter space, and accessibility issues at the current Kailua-Kona Community Based Outpatient Clinic.

• Designates the West Hawaii Veterans Council, a nonprofit organization being formed by the West Hawaii Veterans Cemetery Development and Expansion Association, to manage and operate the facility.

• Requires coordination between the Governor, Department of Land and Natural Resources, and Hawaii Department of Defense to facilitate the land transfer by executive order.